Sweethearts since high school (Benjamin Franklin for her, De La Salle for him), the couple had commenced planning their nuptials but had not made much progress when Stewart’s people called.

Odd, given the principal witness to the proposal is traditionally very efficient with lists.

“We were in a very confused state when we got the call that we were finalists,” Wilks said. “We were completely going nowhere with the wedding planning. It’s hard for any couple in their 20s to think about spending $20,000, $30,000 or $40,000 on a wedding when you’re just starting off your careers and your life together.”

“I wasn’t one of those brides who had a picture in her head of what she clearly wanted,” she said. “I knew my happy ending. I knew I wanted to be Colin’s wife. I just didn’t know how to make it happen. I could’ve married him in a trash bag underneath a street light and it would’ve been awesome. I’m just that type of person.”

In addition to the wedding and reception, the prize included lots of preparatory activity that otherwise causes couples to consider a Las Vegas drive-through ceremony.

She got a designer-gown shopping trip to New York City, with a bridal makeover on the side. He got a tailored suit. Everything else about the event – food (some with a New Orleans flavor) to décor – was cooked up and served on the beach by Martha Inc.

Of course, all of the planning effort was documented for Saturday’s special.

“It started off as a bit of an adjustment for us,” Wilks said. “We just didn’t know how to act natural in front of the camera. After a few days you kind of get used to it.”

And then came the big day itself. The presence of a TV camera crew, in addition to the usual family and friends, had very little impact on the ceremony.

“We always love to surround ourselves with people,” Wilks said. “Standing up on the altar, all I was looking at was Colin, and I think all Colin was looking at was me. There could’ve been elephants doing back flips and we probably wouldn’t have noticed, to tell you the truth. I honestly don’t remember anyone being there.”

The couple’s favorite memory from the day came after that cameras were turned off.

Courtesy of Elizabeth Wilks'It's one of our favorite pictures of the whole day,' said Elizabeth Wilks, of this cell phone photo at the end of their Bahamas wedding day.

“Our wedding party and the guests and the camera crew had cleared out,” Wilks said. “Colin and I were the last to leave. We had a moment, so we sat back down by a fire pit on the beach and watched everybody take down the tents.”

Fortunately, a Martha Stewart staffer was present to snap a camera-phone picture of the moment.